It appears negotiations are continuing to get an extension for the Calstock Power Plant that could close at the end of the year if a deal is not reached between the province and Atlantic Power. Mushkegowuk-James Bay MPP Guy Bourgouin says he understands the concerns of municipal officials including Hearst Mayor Roger Sigouin but noted that the extension might not be enough.
“To save that plant and also to help the forest industry cause there are a lot of jobs in this,” he said. “Mayor Siguoin is right an extension may help but at the end of the day we need a long term deal for this plant.”
Bourgouin says when the area was going through difficult times in the lumber and saw mill industry several years ago, the plant that produces energy from would waste made a major difference to help keep mills financially going.
“That little power plant pretty well saved our region because when you have fiber that you can’t use this gives sawmills in our area revenue that other sawmills did not have,” he said. “So to make them a little bit more competitive to whether the storm.”
